When Pet Toys Kill (New) - It Happened tto Me. Don't Let It Happen to You 

Glad it was helpful!

Thank you so much for watching and for your comments. Much appreciated.

Thank you for your kind words. I'm glad you and your dog were on the other side of fortune, and that he had a full recovery. My purpose with this video was to raise awareness that toys and dogs need supervision, and that some toys are really dangerous. Thank you for watching.

My 9-lb Chihuahua, Tigger, loses interest in squeaker toys once she “kills” the squeaker, either by puncturing it while still in toy or by removing it (and I usually find by rolling over it in my power chair, if it squeaks she’ll come running…) I use yarn to sew up tears and used to return working squeakers at the same time. A habit I’ll stop after seeing the reply; it had never occurred to me she might chew them into pieces. Rope bones, etc have long been a no-no in my apartment as she’d get strings off and shortly after I’d be pulling a string of poop out of her back end (she also had that problem if she got ahold of combed out hair. Now I flush it. Oddly it’s the only time she gets in the trash… May I add another toy? Kong like toys that only have one hole, apparently dogs can get their tongues up into them and without a second hole to relieve pressure the dogs tongue can swell requiring a vet visit and possibly loss of their tongue. It’s been a bit but it seems to me it also said it could cause death, but I cannot swear to that.

Thank you for watching and your comment. My Boston, Spunky, pictured in the thumbnail, his breeder told me he was “on a mission to kill himself.” Unfortunately, he did. With toys, my present crew have those spiky balls and rings, and the 6” Jolly ball. I’m forever trimming those balls when they get gnarly. And when my Shepherd decides he wants the small tennis ball size spiky, I’m watching him like a hawk. Dogs, especially if you have chewers, have to be supervised. My mistake with my Lab, Noel, is that I should have put his toys away for the night. Because that’s when he chewed and swallowed pieces of that rope toy, middle of the night. Pups are like children, you have to watch them. Wishing you many wonderful years with your pups. They’re lucky to have you watching out for them.

@@thepupmommy Thank you so much

Thank you so much for watching and your kind words. They are much appreciated. Losing a dog is painful enough, but when you lose them to something like a pup toy, it's even worse. I still beat myself up. If the video can help one person and their dog, then mission accomplished.

Thank you for your kind words.

Thank you for watching and your comment. The purpose of the video was to indeed alert people that some toys are incredibly dangerous for your dog, and many of them are some of the most popular out there. I always remind people to look at the construction of the toy and its size. Some dogs can swallow tennis balls, some dogs can chew off tops and other parts of toys. It's one thing is the part passes through, it's another if you $$$$$ surgery to get it removed. Wishing you the best with the pup of your choice. Have realistic expectations so that your pup can get used to you and your home and you to your pup.

Thank you. I'm turning fanatical regarding pet toys.

Thank you for watching. I have toys now that have been pretty indestructible with my Boston. He has so many now, he doesn't play with one long enough to create destruction. Squeakers never last more than an hour in my house. :-)

Thank you for your kind comments. Much appreciated. I've made my share of mistakes, so any time I can help people learn from them, I try.

@@thepupmommy this is one serious subject, thank you so much for sharing this information 🙏🏻🙏🏻

Any plain yogurt?

Thank you for taking the time to comment for watching the video. One of the key points that I try and drive home with people is what happened to Spunky, which is not everything a dog swallows shows up on x-rays and bloodwork. After reading your comments, hypothyroidism can cause many of the symptoms and appearance that your dog is showing. So, like with humans, medications have to be tried and then balanced to find what works. Regarding the ropes he chews on, the time between Noel biting off a chunk of know and twine and the time he passed away was approximately 7/8 days. He was eating normally at first, but toward the end, his appetite decreased, I didn't like the way he looked, and the ER vet recommended surgery. And of course, it was too late. You, your husband, know your dog best. If you feel there's something wrong, he's not getting better, than advocate for your dog. I wanted to do exploratory surgery with Spunky, but the vet said no, dianostics didn't warrant surgery. When Spunky died, I said to the vet, we're going to write on his tombstone, "bloodwork normal, x-rays normal." Every pup is different, and your pup may simply have that thyroad condition, but play it safe with the toys. Supervision is key.

Thank you for watching and your comments. I've lost six dogs in 12 years. My two Shepherds to old age (12 yrs+) and two Bostons to brain tumors, and yes, they seizured with one suffering from cluster seizures. I have a video on Euthanasia and my dogs' stories which has helped people struggling with the decision. What I have found is that the best way, at least for me, to honor the pups I've lost, is to open my heart to another who needs a home and love. No pup can replace the ones we've lost. They're all such unique personalities. Adopting a pup is a balance between your head, your heart and your instincts. You'll know when the time is right for you. Thank you for watching.

Thank you very much for watching and for taking your time to comment. If my mistakes help another person and their dog, then mission accomplished.

Thx for watching, and Spunky was an exception. I've always had Bostons in my life, my home. But none of them were like Spunky. His breeder was in constant contact with me over the years that I owned Spunky and his older half-brother, Chipper. Chipper loved his chew toys, but he loved his balls more. He was my ball warrior who loved to play with my Shepherds and the "Jolly" balls, where he'd use his nose to bounce the balls into the air repeatedly. Spunky, on the otherhand, was always the explorer. And when he found something interesting, from a tomato or hosta plant, to a bowl of grapes, he was always investigating, making a mess, or swallowing something. His breeder told me that Spunky was "on a mission to kill himself." And, unfortunately, he did.

Thank you for your comments. My little chipper loved Nylabones, but the problem with the Nylabones, is that they would chew and bite off these tiny pieces, and swallow them. The ragged edges play havoc with the dogs stomach and intestines. Hate those toys but yet they're very popular on the market.

I have a German Shepherd who I adopted at 5 yrs old; also never learned to play with toys or play in general. Unlike my Bostons who are toy warriors or my other Shepherd, who when you throw the ball, you can't ever get it back. Thank you for your comments and for watching.

Thank you for comments and for watching.

Thank you so much for your comments. They are appreciated and thank you for taking the time to watch. If I can save one person grief and one dog's life, then I'm happy.

Thx for your comment and for watching. This is a link to one of the toys that all four of my pups love; the balls come in different sizes (different link): www.amazon.com/gp/product/B086T3CR9D/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1 They also love the Jolly Balls, but those require trimming off the gnarly edges, and as the ball gets older, sometimes, dogs will chew. With any toys, dogs need supervision when playing. That's how I got into trouble with my lab, Noel, who passed on the OR table. I discovered he'd wake up in the middle of the night and play with his toys. Hope this helps.

Thx for watching and comments. Many people don't realize that when a dog gets chewing, the toy or item can disintegrate and be chewed to pieces in no time fast. My Boston Terrier Spunky (pictured) could chew half the handle off a Jolly Ball in no time. I was forever snipping off the gnarly ends before he could swallow them and sometimes I missed a few. With some dogs, the items can pass through their system depending upon the item, what type, and the size of the item vs size of the dog. But others, that can mean a very expensive foreign object surgery. Thx for sharing your insight and experience with me and the viewers. Sounds like you were indeed one very fortunate owner.

Thank you so much for watching the video and comments. My apologies for not replying sooner. The thing about the rope toy is that you have to be there to supervise; you can't let them play with it by themselves, which is what Noel did. I came downstairs ~1:30am, and found him playing with it, and removed it. When the toy starts looking scraggly, in fact when they all do, where pieces look chewed and about to break off, I take out the scissors and trim the toys. As for other toys, my pups like the nubby toys that squeak. www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/leaps-and-bounds-spiny-bone-dog-chew-toy-in-various-styles-large-3679119 I have two Bostons, ~25 lbs, and they've been unable to bite through the toys and swallow any parts; these also come in ball shapes. Looking at the type of breed your dog is, and age, you might try these. You might also see if you can engage your dog with the interactive, puzzle toys. No matter what toy you choose, I've learned to always pick them up, put them in the toy box when your pup is through playing. Puppies are always into everything, but as they get older, you see the true personality of your dog so you'll have a better handle as to what they get into and what they don't. Hope this helps.

@@thepupmommy This helps tons thank you! I am gonna go to the pet store and get some of puzzle toys and see if maybe she'd be interested in them. We got her some toys that you can actually put treats in (there are little treat sized holes on it) and she does like trying to fish them out (although she got a little playfully aggressive and almost chewed one in half that was softer rubber. We switched to the harder stuff soon afterwards 🤣) This video gave me a lot to think about and I'm really sorry for your loss. My fur baby is my world and I know it's gonna happen eventually but I dread the day she'll pass on. Thank you again!

Thank you for watching and your question. All of the above. Really. Right now, my house consists of Jolly Balls, 6", found throughout pet stores and website, and the round spiky balls and spiky rings. The Jolly balls I'm forever on the lookout for chewed, gnarly bits. My Bostons love these balls and can sit for an hour and gnaw at them. When I check, they've made indentations to the ring toss top and I have to use scissors to trim off the gnarly edges. At the moment, I haven't had to remove the any toys entirely. I have had instances in the past month, where my pups have chewed in half some of the smaller rubber balls because of tug-o-war. In that case, then yes, I throw those away. It's why I mentioned, you weigh the cost of a $3/$8/$15 toy vs a $4000 vet bill for foreign object surgery.

Indeed! Quite understand. What some people sometimes fail to realize is that they have to watch what their dogs swallow because if the item is not digestible, it can become lodged inside the dog. That's what happened to me.

How very nice of you, thank you. Thank you for watching and your kind comments. I've made my share of mistakes, and hope that if I can prevent one dog owner grief of losing their pup to something as innocuous as a dog toy, then mission accomplished.

Thank you for watching and your question. It's a good one. Toys that one dog will play with and love, others won't touch. I've tried Kong toys, none of my dogs in 30+ yrs have ever taken to them, despite if I fill them w/goodies. Most dogs, including my own, love the "Jolly" ball , or Jolly Pet as it's sometimes known. I've seen several of these balls lying in the grass in my neighbors' yards. These come in multiple sizes and really bounce when you throw them. They're made pretty well and last a long time. But dogs love to chew on the top part, (the tug) so that gets gnarly, and you have to trim off those parts with scissors. Other toys my dogs like are the rubbery spiky rings and balls. The squeaker dies within a few minutes after they get a hold of it. They hold up pretty well even with my tough chewers who prefer to squeeze the toy rather than tear it apart. With toys, here's what I don't give: rawhide of any kind, rope toys (for the reason in the video), toys that can be chewed apart in minutes, such as tennis balls, or soft rubber balls that kinda look like they're dense rubber foam, and the pieces break off and are swallowed. Nylabone because they are not digestible, and what doesn't pass through your dog's gastro tract can stay inside and create problems, even tiny pieces. When choosing a toy for your dog, look at toy's construction and look at your dog. Don't go with the thin plastic or rubber, because dogs' jaws are tougher than you think, and they'll go right through the toy and then swallow the plastic. Also be sure to choose a size of toy that is appropriate for your size of dog. Regarding supervision, you know your dog best. I have four critters, and I know where each one is all the time, but I don't hover. If I know one is playing with a toy (esp if it's new, that's a prize to any dog), then I'm nearby, and I'll get up every so many minutes to see who's doing what. If a toy looks too chewed, I'll take it away and either trim the toy of its potential hazards or sometimes throw it away. It's better to throw away a toy then pay a vet bill. I would also suggest that you have a toy box if you're a generous pet parent, and each evening put the toys in the box. My accident with Noel, was that he would wake up at night and chew his toys when everyone else was sleeping. He paid with his life. Hope this answers your question.

Thx so much for watching and your comment. I contacted Nylabone shortly after Spunky's passing, and what surprised me by their reply was how matter of fact it was. By that I mean, the customer service rep expressed their condolences and said please send us the bill and we'll reimburse you. I thought, wait, there's no surprise, no request for product codes, nothing. That told me that there's probably a long line of customers who have this problem as well. Nylabone and Greenies are on my list of never agains.

Your such a wonderful human being. Thank you for your comment.

@@thepupmommy Well, I was kind of thinking the same thing as the reply above. If the toy has been chewed and damaged, why wait to replace it, especially after losing two dogs and doing this video?

Thank you for your comment, and regarding bones, you still have to watch your dog. Bones can break depending on the jaw strength of the dog, as well as the size of the bone vs the size of the dog.